Do Great Danes make good family pets and do they have very different needs than most dogs.
2006-10-10 07:09:39 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Great Danes are truly the "Apollo" of dogs. To those of us who are dedicated to the breed, we cannot imagine life without them. Danes are regal. Danes are funny. Danes can be as agile as a gazelle or as clumsy as a bull in a china shop. Danes are as human as a canine can get -- they laugh, they cry. They will share their favorite toy with you and even offer you a bite of their favorite treat. They will comfort you in the bad times and they will celebrate with you in the good.
But, Great Danes are not for everyone. If you have never lived with a giant dog, you are in for the ride of your life. If the thought of drool on your clothes or a six inch hocker suspended from your ceiling sends you into a frenzy, then the Dane is not for you. If large muddy pawprints on the beige carpet flip you out, then the Dane is not for you. If you cannot deal with fluff all over the house from degutted toys (and the occasional pillow, comforter or mattress), then the Dane is not for you.
If you are thinking of adding a Great Dane to your family, please do your homework. Read up on the breed. The GDCA (Great Dane Club of America) website can be a valuable source of information on the breed. Great Danes can be expensive. While all non-Dane owners think Danes eat a ton, food is actually a very minor part of the expense of owning a Dane. Veterinary bills can be horrendous.
If you are still convinced that the Great Dane is for you, please obtain your Dane from a reputable breeder. Backyard breeders abound. Just because a dog has AKC papers does nothing to guarantee the quality of the breeding. Even the lowliest mutt from a rotten puppy mill has AKC papers. Have the breeder's dogs stood the test of time in the show ring? Is the breeder doing health checks? What are the conditions that the breeder's Danes are being kept in. Does the breeder have references -- and don't be surprised when the "good" breeder asks you for references. We care deeply where our puppies go.
2006-10-10 07:18:55 · answer #1 · answered by Brite Tiger 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hi there! My sister has a Great Dane that she got from a rescue society. She is the cutest thing...we call her Kanga because she hops up and down like a kangaroo. =) Her ears are different than a regular dane's, they hang down instead of pointing up. =) Anyway, she is on a very strict diet, they have to stay lean, or else they can have a variety of health problems later on in life, i'm not sure what they are but they can lead to an early death. I would consult a local rescue group before adopting one, or a vet. They make a great family pet though and are great watch dogs as well. Very protective. =) Good luck with your decision! =)
2006-10-10 07:21:23 · answer #2 · answered by aloneinga 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Great Danes are very loveable dogs, very soft and gentle with children. You must obviously have the room, the money to feed their big appetites and give them plenty of exercises. Although keep them away from cliffs! A friend of mine lost her Dane as it was chasing a seagull and just kept going.......... Anyway bear in mind they have a shorter lifespan as well, about 8yrs. Having said all that, go ahead, give a Dane a good loving home and you will be well rewarded
2006-10-10 07:49:15 · answer #3 · answered by cornishmaid 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes a great dane is a good family pet they r like a horse to kids no they don't have different needs from other dogs apart from feeding
2006-10-10 07:14:41 · answer #4 · answered by pauline 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make great family pets! Their needs aren't much different with the exception of their size that you'll need to accomodate with space and food.
They're very lovable and affectionate, but they aren't known to typically have a very long life span either, average of about 8-10 years.
You should always make sure you buy from a reputable breeder that has hip and eye certification as with any breed, this can become an issue with poor breeding.
2006-10-10 07:14:06 · answer #5 · answered by Shadow's Melon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have a great maternal instinct and do make great family pets. HOWEVER they are HUGE, so you need to be OK with the fact that they can step over any baby gate, they may inadvertantly knock over small children, and they will take up the entire bed or couch if you let them on the furniture.
Their dietary needs are very specialized, and many of them have diseases inherant to their breeding. Do some research on this breed before you find one. they also have very short life spans (about 9 years) due to the stress of their growth period in their younger years.
2006-10-10 07:12:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have a great dane puppy he is great eccept he is kind of grouchy and growls sometimes I hope he grows out of this
2015-05-11 05:06:58 · answer #7 · answered by sweet_sugar_snowy37 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great Danes are the best! They are just like any other dog, but you will be cleaning up more poop. :)
2015-09-15 02:36:54 · answer #8 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well yeah! Have you ever watched Scooby-Doo? Your dog (if you get a Great Dane) can probably solve a bunch of mysteries & crimes!
2006-10-10 07:18:14 · answer #9 · answered by Jammin' On The One 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes but they don't half stink when they fart, so do not feed them pedigree chum. They do take more looking after and they take up plenty of room. Don't even consider one if you have a small house, no open areas and small children. They will not attack small children as a rule but they do tend to knock them over by accident.
2006-10-10 07:16:37 · answer #10 · answered by jizzi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋